Psychedelic Microdosing among Young Adults from Southern California
Alyssa F. Harlow, Peter S. Hendricks, Adam M. Leventhal, Jessica L. Barrington‐trimis
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs February 10, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2313684 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,396 |
| Population | Young adults 18-22 years old from Southern California |
| Topics | LSD Psilocybin Microdosing |
| Keywords | Adverse effect Hallucinogen Young adult Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Among 2,396 young adults, 3% had ever microdosed, with psilocybin being the most common drug, and about 18% of those who microdosed used doses far higher than a typical microdose. |
Abstract
Despite common depictions in the media, there is little scientific evidence on microdosing psychedelic drugs. We assessed awareness, prevalence, and dosing practices of microdosing psychedelic drugs among young adults 18-22 years old from Southern California (2018-2019). We examined whether sociodemographic factors, personality traits, mental health, or other substance use behaviors were correlated with having ever microdosed. Among 2,396 participants, 293 (12%) had heard of microdosing and 74 (3%) ever microdosed. Among those who had heard of microdosing, 79% correctly defined microdosing as taking an amount of a psychedelic much lower than a standard dose, whereas 15% misperceived microdosing as a standard psychedelic dose. Psilocybin was the most common drug ever microdosed (70%), followed by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, 57%). Among those who ever microdosed, ~18% reported using psychoactive doses far higher than would be generally considered a microdose. White race, male/masculine gender identity, bisexual identity, past 6-month other drug use, greater attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, mindfulness, and sensation-seeking were positively associated with having ever microdosed in multivariable models. Young adult microdosing merits further attention from scientific and public health professionals to help prevent misperceptions and potential adverse consequences as well as explore its potential therapeutic applications.